Finally Italy has conceded to the demand of the Indian government that Italian marinescharged with the murder of Indian fishermen be returned to India to face the trial.

According to Italian news agency ANSA, which quoted Italy’s Deputy Foreign MinisterSteffan de Mistura, the development came after the Indian government’s assurance thatthere would be no death sentence against the two marines — Massimiliano Latorre andSalvatore Girone — and that their fundamental rights would be protected.

Speaking to the Press this morning, Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid said “diplomacy hasworked where many experts had it written off.”

“The Italian government requested and received written assurances from the Indianauthorities regarding the treatment of the marines and the protection of their fundamentalrights,” the Italian government said in a statement yesterday.

The marines had been granted special leave last month by the Supreme Court to return toItaly to vote in elections following Italian Ambassador Daniele Mancini assurance to thecourt that they would return. On March 11, Italy announced that they would not return,
sparking a diplomatic row between the two countries.
The Supreme Court restrained the Italian envoy from leaving the country till at least April 2.

The two marines are accused of shooting two fishermen they claim they mistook for piratesoff the coast of Kochi last year. Italy says since they were in international waters on anItalian vessel, they should be tried by an international court. India maintains the incidenthappened in Indian waters and Indian lives were lost, they should face trial in India.